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19 Apr 2006 : Column 730W—continued
Abortion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women seeking an abortion in England gave (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Republic of Ireland addresses in each year since 1980. [64018]
Caroline Flint:
The information is shown in the table.
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Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have been performed in (a) Great Britain and (b) Essex under the Abortion Act 1967 as amended by section 37 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; how many and what percentage of such abortions were performed (i) to save the life of the mother, and (ii) where the child would have been seriously handicapped. [64208]
Caroline Flint: The number of abortions performed in England and Wales on residents of England and Wales in the 37 years, 1968 to 2004 was 5.10 million. Of these 23,598 (0.5 per cent.) were performed under sections 1(l) (c) and 1(4) of the Abortion Act 1967. These are cases where the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, or where the termination is immediately necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. 66,374 abortions (1.4 per cent. of the total) were performed under section l(l) (d) ; that there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.
Due to boundary changes, it is not possible to give the total number of abortions performed in Essex in the years 1968 to 2004.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is her policy to promote (a) abortion and (b) the morning-after pill as a way to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies; and if she will make a statement. [64016]
Caroline Flint:
The teenage pregnancy strategy aims to help young people delay early sex through improved sex and relationships education and support for parents in discussing relationship and sexual health issues with their children. However, it is very important that teenagers who are sexually active have access to
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contraception, including emergency contraception, and sexual health advice to minimise the risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.
Health professionals provide contraception and advice on abortion to young people within an established legal framework which involves assessing the young person's competence to understand the choices they are making and encouraging them to talk to their parents.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the morning-after pill on the overall abortion rate in England; and if she will make a statement. [64017]
Caroline Flint: We are not aware of any studies which have been able to predict the effect the availability of emergency contraception through pharmacies or the national health service has on unintended pregnancy rates or abortions.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations in the field of reproductive health are funded by her Department; how much her Department plans to give to each organisation in the next two years; whether account is taken of an organisation's position on abortion when allocating public funds; and if she will make a statement. [64368]
Caroline Flint: The Department funds the Family Planning Association and Brook. The Department will confirm their funding for the next two financial years shortly. When allocating funding account is taken of the extent to which organisations work to further the Department's health and social care objectives, including those for sexual and reproductive health.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the operation of statutory instruments (a) 1976/15 and (b) 1980/1724. [64369]
Caroline Flint: The statutory instruments 1976/15 and 1980/1724 were revoked and replaced by the Abortion Regulations 1991.
Administration Spending
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what average percentage of budget acute trusts spent on administration in 2004–05. [34202]
Jane Kennedy: In 2004–05 expenditure on administration by all national health service trusts in England as a percentage of total income was 7 per cent.
Animal Insulin
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to ensure the availability of animal insulin in light of the announcement by Novo Nordisk that they intend to discontinue supply. [61895]
Jane Kennedy:
The other supplier of animal insulin to the United Kingdom, Wockhardt UK, has assured the Department of its commitment to continue the supply of its products. It has also given assurance that it will be able to meet any increased demand when Novo Nordisk's products are no longer available.
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Audiology
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) the three-month vacancy rate and (b) the three-month vacancy number was for audiologists (i) in England and (ii) in each hospital trust in March 2006; and if she will make a statement. [62626]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 18 April 2006]: The results from the 2006 vacancy survey have yet to be published. The latest published three-month vacancy rate for audiologists in England and in each hospital trust in March 2005 is available in the Library.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified audiologists were employed (a) in England and (b) in each hospital trust in September 2005; and if she will make a statement. [62627]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 18 April 2006]: The results from the September 2005 census will be published on the 24 April 2006.
Data on the number of qualified audiology staff in post in England and in each hospital trust as at September 2004 has been placed in the Library.
Cancer Treatment (Children)
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the EU Clinical Trials Directive, and implementing UK legislation, on the development of treatments for children with cancer. [57783]
Jane Kennedy: The directive acknowledges the need for clinical trials involving children to improve the treatments available to them. In conjunction with the aims of the directive to protect trial subjects, particular emphasis is laid on the issue of informed consent for trials involving minors. The Government are committed to making an assessment of the effects of implementation of the directive as soon as reliable evidence is available. The Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency, which acts as the licensing authority for all clinical trials within the directive's scope, has asked the United Kingdom clinical research collaboration to review the evidence to date, consider how to reduce any adverse regulatory impact, including the perceived extra bureaucracy involved, and agree plans for long-term monitoring. Additionally, Cancer Research UK and the national clinical research network have undertaken initial assessments of opinion about the effect of the directive on cancer clinical trials across the UK. Other assessments are being carried out at the European level with the Federation of European Cancer Societies.
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